Pink Floyd, a long time hold out, has finally come to Spotify. On Friday, Pink Floyd allowed “Wish You Were Here” onto the streaming service. Unpublicized, they agreed that if the album got 1 million streams, they’d allow the rest of their catalog to be included. This morning they hit the 1 million. And now, it’s all there. The Beatles, The Eagles, and a few others are still holding out from Spotify. But the Pink Floyd news is major. “Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the most popular albums of all time. On Spotify it should skyrocket. Streaming is now turning into the biggest deal of all–it’s easy and there’s none of the tiresome uploading of CDs. So now we’ll wait for Pink Floyd numbers from Spotify. I’m putting “The Wall” on now…
Jay Z: 1 Million Free Copies of New Album Will NOT Be Counted on Pop Charts
So here it is. According to my sources, Soundscan will not count the 1 million copies of Jay Z’s new album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” Samsung bought the 1 million copies for five bucks apiece. They plan to give them out to the first million customers who download their Jay Z app on Samsung phones and tablets beginning June 24th. The $5 million involved is part of what’s described as a $30 million marketing plan. It’s good for Jay Z and Samsung equally. But Soundscan, which counts the units sold, won’t include that number in Jay Z’s sales.
Soundscan simply doesn’t acknowledge bulk sales.
So when “Magna Carta” debuts a couple of days later in stores and on download services, forget it. Only those copies will count toward his chart position. The Samsung million will just be part of the promotion.
Billboard will follow suit with Soundscan and not count the copies either.
But if Soundscan doesn’t count them, then it’s likely the RIAA won’t either– and that will impinge on Jay Z getting a gold or platinum album. But hey, after 10 hit albums and millions of dollars, it’s possible he doesn’t care about that anymore. Heck, “Magna Carta” doesn’t even appear on release schedules. It’s just…appeared out of nowhere.
Survivor: My Amazing Lunch with Lauren Bacall and Vanessa Redgrave
I just came home from lunch with two irascible legends, Lauren Bacall and Vanessa Redgrave. And now I need a nap. (A picture I took is attached.) Terence Stamp was also there. He and Redgrave star in a charming film to be released this Friday by The Weinstein Company called “Unfinished Song.” Peggy Siegal organized the lunch at Michael’s, with a few other notables including Cuba Gooding Jr, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, newspeople Bob Jameson and Jody Applegate, and so on. I never got a chance to talk to Frank DiGiacomo, who’s turned Movieline around.
But I got to sit with my old friend Bacall. She and Redgrave couldn’t stop hugging and kissing each other. They became friends many years ago through Vanessa’s late great daughter Natasha Richardson. Betty Bacall said, “I don’t go out and I don’t go to lunch. I did this for Vanessa Redgrave.” They caught up on family stories from both sides, especially updates about grandchildren.
During lunch, Terence Stamp, the original General Zod from the Richard Donner “Superman” movies, made a toast. He looked around and said, “I was hoping to meet Harvey Weinstein,” he said, looking around the room. He added, “My feeling is, there’s an artist in there trying to escape.”
Redgrave — a mere 76 to Bacall’s 88– appears tonight at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in a panel on Shakespeare. “We’re reading about Shakespeare and money,” she said. In August, she appears in “The Butler” just in the opening sequence with Mariah Carey– a harrowing introduction to the movie by her account. Then she opens in September with James Earl Jones in London in “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Old Vic. When that’s over she may return to Broadway with Jesse Eisenberg in their off Broadway hit, “The Revisionist.” She’s also in Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher” this Oscar season.
“What are you doing next?” I asked. “I know, but I don’t want to tell you,” Redgrave said. “Is that all right?” It is. She was more interested in spending time with her friend. She did get a little political, talking about global markets.
Bacall, laying low because of a pained leg, told me she did see Tom Hanks on Broadway in “Lucky Guy.” “He was pretty good,” she said, which is like getting an A plus. “He should have won the Tony.”
Journalist David Margolick came over and asked if he could interview Bacall sometime about her friendship with legendary composer Ira Gershwin’s wife. “It’s for a book,” he said.
“Everyone has a book or a film they want to ask me about,” Bacall said. She was non-committal. She made her exit at that point. It was great to see her. She’s a living Hollywood icon in our midst. Let’s not forget that. And damn funny.
Redgrave made a little speech, thanking everyone for coming. “I got to meet Cuba Gooding!” she said, deliciously.
PS Michael’s for a Monday was pretty filled up with a hot selection of peeps. In the main corner: Tom Brokaw and Dick Ebersol. That sort of thing.
“Mad Men”: Ominous End Credit Lyrics, Strange Press Release
“Mad Men” ended last night with music over the closing credits. It was “Porpoise Song” by The Monkees. Never a hit, “Porpoise Song” was obviously placed there on porpoise– or purpose. Also, AMC sent out this weird press release from Sterling Cooper after the show was over last night. First the lyrics:
Songwriters: GOFFIN, GERRY/KING, CAROLE
My, my the clock in the sky is pounding away
There’s so much to say
A face, a voice, an overdub has no choice
And it cannot rejoice
Wanting to be, to hear and to see
Crying to the sky
But the porpoise is laughing good-bye, good-bye
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye
Clicks, clacks
Riding the backs of giraffes for laughs is alright for a while
The ego sings of castles and kings and things
That go with a life of style
Wanting to feel, to know what is real
Living is a lie
But the porpoise is waiting good-bye, good-bye
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye
Second, the press release:
Peggy Olson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chief Copywriter, SC&P (212) KL 5-0112
STERLING COOPER & PARTNERS FORMALIZE MERGER WITH NEW LOGO, AGENCY BRAND
NEW YORK, N. Y. (October 27, 1968) – Sterling Cooper & Partners today formalized the recent merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason Chaough with the release of a new logo and agency brand.
The partners commented:
“We are pleased to join with our new partners and present our new name and logo, which reflect our shared efforts to provide quality service in the marketplace,” said SC&P partner Bert Cooper.
“As far as logos go, this is front page news,” said SC&P partner Roger Sterling. “My publisher loves the name of our new firm, and so do I.”
“A name can mean a new beginning, a chance to see yourself as you would dream to be, and to leave the baggage you have accumulated over the years behind,” said SC&P partner Don Draper. “At least that’s been my observation.”
“The logo for the combined entity is clean, visually-striking, and you have to agree the ampersand is funky,” said SC&P partner Jim Cutler.
“Our new name and brand is something we can all believe in, through the late nights and weekends, a symbol of our commitment to the work,” said SC&P partner Ted Chaough.
About Sterling Cooper & Partners:
Formed by the merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason Chaough, Sterling Cooper & Partners is a full-service advertising agency located in New York, N. Y., working with clients in a variety of industries including automotive, health care, consumer products, food and other packaged goods. The firm does not accept any tobacco-related work.
Trailer: Martin Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street Looks like a ‘Legal’ GoodFellas
The trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street” is here. It looks like a ‘legal’ “Goodfellas”– meaning, people who aren’t criminals acting like them. If the movie is this good, we’re in for an exciting fall. Matthew McConnaughey, in this cut, steals the show. He seems destined for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
Mad Men: Bob Benson Revealed, Pete Revived, Sally Interviewed
“Mad Men” just ended. The big news is that Bob Benson was revealed, I won’t say how yet. Suffice to say that thanks to Duck, checking for Pete on Bob’s background, Pete is back. Bob will be Pete’s bucket boy now, which should be interesting. Meanwhile, Sally wants to go to boarding school and has an interview–with overnight stay–at Miss Porter’s. Her line, “My father has never done anything for me,” will live in infamy. Sally may turn out to be Don’s greatest enemy.
Elsewhere, the “Rosemary’s Baby” commercial doesn’t sound like such a great idea for St. Joseph’s aspirin for children. But it did draw more out of the Peggy-Ted relationship. The pause in the room when Don said Ted’s reasons for the commercial were personal– the longest pause in recent TV history. Who didn’t worry about what Don was going to say?
Was Don home watching reruns of “The Patty Duke Show” during the day? It was long off the air by 1968 as a first run show.
And then: Ken getting shot by the Chevy execs during the first segment was also a little mini soap opera, but cleverly done. Joan imitating the old Jewish lady for the commercial pitch was hilarious.
There are so many loose strands to tie up. It’s hard to believe next week is the last episode of the penultimate season. Can 14 episodes more after that really bring “Mad Men” to a satisfactory close? And can we wait until next March? Painful.
Jay Z New Album, But 1Mil Free Copies from Samsung May Not Count on Chart
UPDATE: Monday will see a big debate about Jay Z’s announced forthcoming album– and Samsung’s giveaway of 1 million copies to their customers. Samsung bought 1 million copies for $5 each and they’re going to give them away to their customers. Cheapo copies tied to promotions have caused a brouahaha in the record biz. When Lady Gaga sold hundreds of thousands of “Born this Way” CDs through Amazon for 99 cents, new rules were put in place. The minimum sale price has to be $3.49. Madonna sold a bunch of her last album by attaching it to ticket sales. It dropped 70% in its second week. Jay Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail” will register 1 million copies all at once through Samsung devices. But then what? And how will SoundScan react to such a deal when other albums that week will sell for twice that much? And how is it no one from DefJam has mentioned this album coming in between releases from Kanye West and Mariah Carey this summer?
EARLIER: Kanye West’s “Yeezus” is coming on Tuesday. But now we hear a couple of weeks more will bring Jay Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” As with “Yeezus,” the Jay Z album is produced or prepared by Rick Rubin. You’ll see him in the video below. Weird– at Sony, Rubin did nothing. Now he’s quarterbacking the hip hop releases at Island DefJam. And it looks like he leaves his house for the studio. In between Kanye and Jay Z, Def Jam releases Mariah Carey’s new album. What a summer!
By the way, Jay Z has a unique merchandising deal with Samsung. Score one for the Korean electronics giant. This is why the Galaxy and Note lines have gained so much against Apple. They know cool.
Samsung will give away 1 million copies of Magna Carta to fans who download their Jay Z app. Samsung paid $5 for the albums. Should SoundScan count those as sales? The lowest amount an album can sell for and be counted is $3.49 after the big Lady Gaga-amazon debacle.
Janet Jackson, Brothers Skip Brother Tito’s Son’s Wedding
UPDATE 6:45PM pacific: Jermaine Jackson just showed up. The wedding was set for 5pm. He missed it.
Earlier: You have to love the Jackson family. Michael Jackson had them pegged that’s for sure. They show unity only when money is involved. Reports are coming in from Tito Jackson’s son’s wedding. T.J., one of the 3Ts and brother to Michael’s kids’ co guardian Taj, just got married in Encino at the family home. Janet Jackson, brothers Jermaine, Randy, and Jackie all skipped the wedding. Katherine and Joseph are there, with Prince and Blanket. Paris Jackson, as I reported earlier, did not attend. LaToya and Rebbie are there. LaToya’s probably filming for her reality show.
keep refreshing for updates…to see if the absentees show up for the reception…
Daytime Emmy Winners: George Lucas Wins a Daytime Emmy Award
KEEP REFRESHING: “Star Wars: Clone Wars” just won a Daytime Emmy for animation. George Lucas and Carrie Fisher are there. No surprise. So they knew. Carrie just stole the show by zetzing Ozzy Osbourne about dropping acid, that they had the same dealer etc…
George Lucas is there. He’s making an acceptance speech.
Earlier: “Dr. Oz” just won Best Talk Show–Informative, and beat Katie Couric. But the presentation was a near mis-hap saved thanks to Aisha Tyler. She opened the envelope with the women from “The Talk” and discovered she had the winner from a different category. Quick thinking saved the day. “There’d better be a drink waiting for me at my table,” said Aisha who also seems to be a foot taller than her co-hosts.
Best Actor in a soap opera: Doug Davidson, from “The Young and the Restless,” who’s been on the show since Ronald Reagan was president. Supporting Actor: a tie– Scott Clifton from “The Bold and the Beautiful” and Billy Miller from “The Young and the Restless.” The latter gave a nice shout out to the late Jeanne Cooper…
PS This is a strange show. Les Moonves, whenever they cut to him, looks a little bewildered….
Keep refreshing…
Monty Hall is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award. The former “Let’s Make a Deal” host is 91 years young. His daughter is famed actress Joanna Gleason. He’s a very nice guy…But is this show directed by anyone? it’s one mistake after another…
BEST GAME SHOW: The Price is Right…
Best Writing, Soap Opera: “The Bold and the Beautiful” — a basically unwatchable TV show. They killed off Susan Flannery’s character, and that got them the award. Otherwise, the show is like a parody of a soap. But it’s written by its producer, Bradley Bell, son of the late William Bell. The Bells are big financial supporters of the Obamas and the Democratic Party. They know from soap opera.
Best Supporting Actress, Soap Opera: Julie Marie Berman, “General Hospital”
You gotta love this show. The audience talks right through the whole thing, and the producers don’t cut the overhead mics…So weird…
Best Actress, Soap Opera: Heather Tom, “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Corbin Bernsen just dropped an F bomb and said “Shit.” No censors on HLN. His mother, Jeanne Cooper, would be proud apparently…Luckily someone remembered Al Freeman, Jr….
Best Younger Actress, Soap Opera: Kristen Alderson, who’s been on “One Life to Live” since she was a child and is now “General Hospital”
Best Talk show: Ellen De Generes
Best Directing, Soap Opera: “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Now Les Moonves is happy.
Best Soap Opera: went to “Days of our Lives” even though it wasn’t the best written or best directed and didn’t have a lead best actor or actress.
Best Talk Show host was Ricki Lake, whose show was cancelled.
Queen’s Awards to 10-Time Oscar Nominee Roger Deakins, Plus Jackie Collins, Adele
Queen Elizabeth’s birthday awards this weekend went to a varied bunch. Ten time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins, a master cinematographer, was knighted with Commander of the British Empire. How is it Deakins has never won an Oscar? This last year, he was nominated for “Skyfall.” Well, the Queen has made it up to him. Now Joel and Ethan Coen will have to call him Sir Roger. (I’ve asked them to call me that but they don’t!)
Also on the Queen’s list: “Hollywood Wives” novelist Jackie Collins, who is just about the most fun person on the West Coast from the British Isles, got an OBE. So did Adele, who didn’t have to wait very long, and singer-songwriter P.J. Harvey.
Sculptor Anish Kapoor, fine artist Albert Irvin, actors Claire Bloom, Rowan Atkinson, and Julian Glover, and producer-director Michael John Attenborough, “Gandhi” director Richard–and also director of the famed Almeida Theater– were also cited by the Queen.
Joan Collins received her own OBE in 1997. Reports today she immediately sent congrats to Jackie. The sisters are very close, are probably among the few siblings with Queen’s awards. Not bad!